Cherryia White (she/her/hers)

Cherryia is a proud KIPP alum and a current undergraduate senior at Duke University majoring in African and African American Studies, with minors in Environmental Science & Policy and Marine Science & Conservation. A first-generation, low-income student, she is also one of the few Black certified scuba divers—an ocean enthusiast whose love for water has carried her from small boats to deeper explorations of the ocean’s wonders.

As a member of Black In Marine Science (BIMS), she is passionate about representation and equity. Her work uplifts underserved rural communities by celebrating the “salt and light” within them while opening space for dialogue around education, environmental justice, and social issues. Guided by resilience and imagination, she seeks to blend scholarship, storytelling, and service in pursuit of a more just and sustainable future.